North Northamptonshire

North Northamptonshire's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 320,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of North Northamptonshire increased by 12%, from about 284,000 to 317,000.

The addition of just under 33,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, North Northamptonshire was home to, on average, 1 person per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older North Northamptonshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of North Northamptonshire increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This suburban area had a slightly higher average age than the East Midlands and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 11,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 4,000.

About 12% of people in North Northamptonshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and North Northamptonshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in North Northamptonshire

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in North Northamptonshire at a faster rate than in Rutland (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with North Northamptonshire).

In North Northamptonshire, the proportion of single people increased from 26% in 2001 to 30% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Rutland increased from 25% to 27%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in North Northamptonshire fell from 54% to 50%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 12% to 13%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in North Northamptonshire

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 31% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 31% in 2001

The number of people in North Northamptonshire that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 53,000 in 2001 to about 98,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 19% to 31% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in North Northamptonshire that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 200,000 in 2001 to just under 190,000 in 2011 (from 71% to 59%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 23,000 to about 21,000 (from 8.1% to 6.7%).

About 4,000 people (1.1%) said they were Hindu, up from just under 3,100 in 2001 (1.3%).

The population without a religion in North Northamptonshire increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and North Northamptonshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in North Northamptonshire

The percentage of North Northamptonshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.8% in 2001. The percentage of North Northamptonshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.9% to 6.7%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (which remained close to 89%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in North Northamptonshire at a faster rate than across the East Midlands.

In North Northamptonshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.5% to 15%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in North Northamptonshire fell from 18% to 16%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 73% to 68%.

Private renting in North Northamptonshire increased by 7.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in North Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in North Northamptonshire

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 93% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 93% in 2001

The number of people in North Northamptonshire from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 270,000 in 2001 to just under 300,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 96% to 93%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in North Northamptonshire from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 5,900 in 2001 to just under 9,400 in 2011 (from 2.1% to 3.0%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 2,800 to about 5,400 (from 1.0% to 1.7%).

About 5,300 people (0.9%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 2,500 in 2001 (1.7%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in North Northamptonshire decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and North Northamptonshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in North Northamptonshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week remained close to 1.5%.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 14% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in North Northamptonshire decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in North Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of North Northamptonshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.0% to 4.9% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. While the percentage of North Northamptonshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in North Northamptonshire decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in North Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in North Northamptonshire, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.3% to 12% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households had only one person, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of households in North Northamptonshire which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 40% to 36%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.7% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of North Northamptonshire residents that were unemployed increased from 3.0% to 4.2% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 59% in 2001. The percentage of North Northamptonshire residents that were self-employed increased from 7.6% to 8.7%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in North Northamptonshire increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in North Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of North Northamptonshire residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.8% to 2.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 2.2% in 2001 to 2.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in North Northamptonshire remained close to 2.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and North Northamptonshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in North Northamptonshire

The percentage of households without children changed very little here, while the proportion increased in nearby Rutland.

In North Northamptonshire, the proportion of households without children increased from 60% in 2001 to 60% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Rutland increased from 62% to 65%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of households without children increased from 61% to 62%.

The proportion of households with children in North Northamptonshire remained close to 31%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.1% to 9.2%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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